Petra, one of Bird TLC's education eagles, lays an egg

Petra came to Bird TLC in 1995 after being found in a leg hold trap. It was determined that she was non-releasable because of a permanent shoulder injury and she was placed in the education program soon after. Leslie Lancaster became her caretaker until her tragic death in a auto accident on December 4, 2006. Prior to that date, we don't know if she's every laid an egg before.

 

Petra came back to live at the old Bird TLC clinic on Nielson Way. Eventually she would move into a very large mew formerly occupied by One Wing and Ol' Witch until they passed away. From then on Petra was in charge of the mew yard. She always offered her opinion and it was always heard.

 

In December 2013, Bird TLC had to move from the Nielson Way location when the building was sold. Knowing that we'd be moving to a smaller location, Lisa and her dad Mike, built Petra a very nice mew in Lisa's backyard. (See Petra's big move.) On 12/15/2013, Petra moved in and you could tell it was meant to be. Lisa is an awesome caretaker, besides presenter, and you can tell Petra approved..

The other day, I got an excited text message "Petra's first egg!!!!!! along with a photo. At first Lisa thought I had played a joke on her. A couple of Easters ago, I put a large pink and sparkly egg in Petra's mew on Easter. This time I had nothing to do with it, it was all Petra.

We guess that she has become comfortable with her new home. Also, she is living in a more quiet area. So, mother nature and Petra took their course. Now, it's not fertile. Petra doesn't have a partner. So there won't be any little eagle feet scouring around.  Even though, this is exciting news for all of us involved with Petra.

Petra's big move

I've written about Lisa and Petra many times on this blog, so I'll give you links to fill you in on some past stories. Lisa spent a lot of time traveling to the Bird TLC clinic to either feed Petra or take her back and forth to a presentation. Lisa decided it would be a lot easier if Petra lived at her house. After getting Bird TLC, USF&;W, and ADF&G approval, a new mew was being constructed in Lisa's backyard by her dad.

So now the mew is complete, it passed all inspections and is now on all permits. Today is moving day. The timing is right. Bird TLC signed a new lease at a new location today. We'll be moving there shortly and there's no room for Petra's old large mew.


Petra leaves her old mew for the last time. Prior to today, she would announce to anyone that would enter the mew yard that they are in her territory. She was the queen of the mew yard. That will be missed by all I'm sure. Petra has been very popular around Alaska also. She has meet many celebrities, politicians, and lots of people wanting to know more about eagles.

But now Petra starts a new page in her life. She's only lived with one other person, Leslie Lancaster, but she's lived at the Bird TLC clinic since 2006. She's' only had 4 presenters since she's been at Bird TLC. She was the queen of the mew yard, now she has a new yard to look over.

Petra knows something is up. Almost everyone whoever is involved with her daily are there at the same time. This is her kennel which she travels in. It's one of her safe places.

We packed her supplies and took everything along to help her new home feel like her home.

We arrived at Lisa's home and Petra jumped out of the kennel onto Lisa's glove. She knows there is something there and I believe she trust no one more then Lisa.

Petra sees her new home and is anxious to check it out. It's all shinny clean and even smells like a new mew.

Petra and Lisa enter the new mew so Petra can do her move in inspection.

Lisa tells Petra all about the lights, heated water dish and new AstroTurf on all the perches.

Petra acts like it'll do.

But as soon as Lisa fills up her water dish, she adds her seal of approval and takes a bath.

 

I'm excited for Lisa because this is a new page in her life also. Not many people are allowed to be a caretaker of a bald eagle in their backyard. But Lisa isn't just anyone. She's well trained and has lots of experience.

 

I'm also excited for Petra. She be well taken care of and Lisa will have more time to spend with her.

 

Education Presenter Orientation

The Bird TLC Education Committee put on another Orientation Program tonight with an awesome turn out. Over 20 people interested in being one of our education presenters were on hand. We also had guests from Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. They are working on developing a program of their own.

Everything was discussed from how to present, what not to wear....

gear for the bird, gear for the presenter and then

everyone that wanted was able to test drive one of our education birds.

Presentation at Clark Middle School

Chris and Maverick the peregrine falcon before the students at Clark.

Lisa answering bald eagle, Petra questions.

Ghost and me finish things up.

We had the pleasure of presenting some of our education birds to some of the students of Clark Middle School today. Students and teachers alike were asking questions and listening to our presentation. I hope they have us back again.

Photos by Cynthia Hoog / Bird TLC

ADF&G Salmon Celebration @ Potter Marsh

Lisa, Petra, Ghost, Galen and myself we're at the ADF&G Salmon Celebration at Potter Marsh on Friday. There were over 1500 kids from the Anchorage School District that made it by to see us and look at the education birds up close. It was a beautiful day and a great time was had by all. We can't wait until next year.

Education Birds annual exam time

All of Bird TLC's education birds are well taken care of. However, once a year their caretakers are required to bring the birds in to be examined, blood drawn and tested, talons and or beaks trimmed (coped) and anything else they medically might need.

Here Lisa trims Petra, a 17 year old female bald eagles talons and above Heather is coping Petra's beak. Both must be in ideal shape for the health of the bird.

Dr. Karen Higgs examines Galen, an estimated 19 year old great horned owl. Galen also got his beaki- pedi.

And of course the paperwork.

Today was a good day. 4 birds were examined and all were in excellent shape. Blood work was sent to the lab and we'll have results in a week or so. 25 more birds to go.

Lisa and Petra

Hi Dave,

Here’s a fun story to put on the blog. Last night Lisa, Karen C., and myself were giving a program on the third floor balcony at the Dena’ina Center. We were part of the “Experience America” program which was put on for 70 ambassadors and their significant others. As soon as Petra came out of her kennel the gulls starting mobbing her. Lisa got to defend Petra with her stick and Petra seemed to be enjoying herself. The only bad part was that the gulls starting pooping on Lisa and Petra. They even did it when they were getting photographed with some of the ambassadors. Everybody enjoyed the spectacle that was part of our program and we got to meet a lot of ambassadors from all over the world. By the end of the night both Petra and Lisa were covered in poop and both went home to take baths!

Karen C. and I couldn’t stop laughing initially because Lisa looked so stoic defending Petra and I wish that I would have gotten a photo of Lisa at the end of the night covered in bird poop. Luckily Lisa was a good sport about it and still put on a good show!

Ginamaria

A good time at Potter Marsh

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game was the host of a fun event at Potter Marsh yesterday. It was for the 4th & 5th grade kids of Anchorage School District to learn more about salmon and life cycle.

An estimated 800 kids came out for the day and they also go to see some of our education birds.

(Picture borrowed from Patrica Grenier)

A gorgeous day helped make it a perfect event.

Gina Maria presented Arc our great horned owl and Lisa with Petra a bald eagle. Cindy and Hal a bald eagle and me with Ghost a snowy owl also got to present.

For the past 9 months I've worked with Lisa and Petra. We both got to share this event today.

All in ll a fun time today.

Lisa and Petra go to Hope School

I had the pleasure of accompanying Lisa and Petra to Hope where they did an awesome presentation for the students and staff at Hope School.

Hope School is a little over an hours drive from Anchorage and has a student population of about 24 with 3 of them being seniors this year. Lots of questions were asked by all and both Lisa and Petra were happy to answer.

Both were asked to return again along with other presenters and education birds from Bird TLC. It was a fun time for all.


For more photos of their visit, click here.

Training with the bald eagle named Petra

It's official, I'm training with Petra and Lisa is my mentor. You might remember that Lisa was my mentor with Gus the great horned owl. This is training that will take some time, you can't rush the process.

Lisa has been working with Petra for a couple years now. She's been one of my favorite presenters. Besides Petra she also presents Galin the great horned owl and Willow the magpie. She is the chairperson for the Education Committee and works in the Bird TLC Clinic on Sundays. She's a busy gal.

Petra has been with Bird TLC about 16 years now. She had an injured shoulder that left her non-releasable and avian pox. She is very vocal. Since One Wing and Ol' Witch passed away, she has become the boss of the mew yard. Even though she doesn't have a mate, every mating season she sets up a nesting area. She averages about 14 lbs during that time and drops down to about 12 the rest of the year.

This is pretty exciting for me. I started at Bird TLC in 2002 not wanting to work with any of the birds, just doing repairs and fundraising. Well, I still do that and also manage the flight center. I live with a snowy owl and a falcon, I also work with a great horned owl and now I'm training with Petra. There's a couple other task in there somewhere. Petra is an awesome ambassador for Bird TLC and I'm proud to be working with her.

For more photos of Petra, click here.